Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-05

Illinois Politics"
Under the above caption ponds
ent OF the Louisville Courier Journal
writes lengthy communications on tn.
nol;tical situation in this state. The ar
ticle, while written from a democratic
standpoint, gives careful and unbiased
review of the existing state of affairs in
this great commonwealth, and the writer
furnishes facts and figures to prove his
assertions. He shows that until 1856,
Illinois was democratic state. aud since
1876 the republican ascendancy has not
been secure at any time, carrying the
elections By pluralitles only The legIs
lature has once during that period elected
a coalition candidate for senator over the
regular republican nominee and the
strongest man in his party-Gen. Logan.
During the winter of 1884 the legislative
vote was tied until the death of u demo>
cratic member from the Thirty>fourth dis
trict, and the subsequent surprise by
which republican member was elected
in democratic district, having ordinarily
some 2,400 majority, gave the state and
contest, the legislature and the senator,
again to the republican party.
Speaking of the last campaign, the
writer says:
The campaign of 1886 was marked by
certain extraordinary features. There
was not democratic speech made in
general canvass in the course of that
year The democratic officials, newly
appointed to position, were deferred from
exercising their usual influence as cltl-
zens in a campaign because OF mIsap-
prehension of the presidents ideas; great
uncertainty was felt and expressed as TO
the views of the administration upon the
conduct of officials and under these cir
cumstsnces, pressed as the democratic
party was by compact, well organized,
vindictive and long victorious enemy, re-
craited from the ranks of the disappointed
and uncertain, the wonder is that the
state was not carried by a larger majority
than at any time since 1872, instead OF
being carried only by pluralities.
The article also dwells upon the advan.
tage the republican party of Illinois has
had in possessing some of the strongest
and most influential men in the party as
leaders, and the utter disregard of the
democratic national committee to the
psrty's welfare in this state. The gist of
the whole communication is, however, that
the state is debstable ground at the COM
ing presidential campaign, and by proper
management that its electoral vote may
be cast for the democratic nominees.
The ARGUS is in sympathy with this
feeling, and believes that Illinois can DE
made democratic by proper effort.
For years the state has been under tho
control of the republican party, and the
recent exposure of the scheme in which
the treasury was being Systematically
plundered in the matter of public prints
ing, has famed the desire for change of
party administration. The next national
democratic convention can do much to
achieve success i'll this state, if in the
wisdom OF its deliberations, it selects one
of her hOnOred sons for second place
on the presidential ticket. 1t is conceded
that the nomination will fall to western
man, and why not to Illinois? And it
the honor should fall to Illinois who
would make a more deserving or accepta-
bic candidate than Hon. William R. Nor,
rison, of Waterloo? There is no doubt
but that Col Morrison is the most popu =
lar democratic leader in Illinois today
and that his candidacy would arouse the
necessary enthusiasm and interest to
place the state in the democratic column.
His active and unceaslng efforts in behalf
of democratic principles during his long
congressional career has given him ma,
iional reputation and acquaintance that
would stand him in good stead in a presi-
dental fight, which. together with his &C
knowledged honesty and sincerity, and I'M
disputed ability as financier and states>
man, would make him a most formidable
candidate. President Cleveland recog-
nized his worth when he appointed him
on the civil service commission, and he
makes one of the most valuable members
of that important body. That would he
sgood ticket for 1888 cleveland and
Morrison